Attachment for box-covering machines



Nov. 6, 1951 I M. v. SlLBY 2,574,125

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX-COVERING MACHINES Filed D80. 5, 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET l FIG. 1

FIG. 2 48 INVENTOR. MARTIN V. SILBY A torney Nov. 6, 1951 M. v. SILBY 2,574,126

* ATTACHMENT FOR soxwovrmme MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 19 7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 335 32/ INVENTOR.

MARTIN V. SIL B Y Attorneys Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR "BOX-COVERING 'MACHINES MartinV. Silby, New York, .N. Y.

Application December 5, 194f7 ,.SerialjNo.'"789,877

The invention relates to attachments "for boxcovering machines of the type-described in U. S. Patent No. 691,329, issued January '14, 1 902, to Smith.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and practical attachment for a machine of this type for-the purpose of-adapting-the machine to operate to cover abox shell whichis shaped externally like a truncatedpyramid -and internally like a parallelepiped.

A further object of the invention isto provide improved means in such an attachment whereby "the corner-lapping tabs-usuallyprovided on-certain .s'ide-wall-formingparts of cruciform cover 'blanksmaybe accurately and positively afiixed to the outer side-wall corners of shells'of the shape described above.

In'the'drawings:

. Fig. ,1 is a partly erased top plan view of those parts of a box-coveringmachine of the type described in the cited patent which engage box shells and cover blanks during a box-covering operation, and shows my attachment applied thereto. r

Fig. 2 is an elevational View projected-from-Fi-g.

1. Manypartsshown in Fig. '1 are here omitted ior clarity, as the particular purpose of Fig. 2 is to illustrate the vertical positional relationship of several essential elements. Fig. '2 illustrates thatstage in a, box-covering operatiomwherein the shell involved is as described-in the preamble hereto, which immediately follows the aifixing to the shell of the corner-.-lapping--.tabs ofside-wallforming partsof the cover blank: this stage of the process is illustrated insolid lines; the-stage relating to the actual aflixing of the corner-lapping tabs is shown schematically in the-same figure by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is alengthwise-view ofone-ofiour-improved rollers which, in myattach-ment, are substituted for the fourrollers'ordinarily provided in a machine ofthe type-described in the'cited patent for the purpose of folding upward and affixing to the side-walls'of the shell the four sidewall-forming parts of cruciform cover blanks.

Fig. 4 isa partly-sectionalvertical-detailillustrating a stage in a box-covering operation, wherein the shell involved is as described'in the preamble hereto, such stage being that almost immediately following'the stage illustrated in "Fig. 2 insolid lines.

Figs.:5 and 6,'both alsopartly sectional vertical 'details,-illustrate twosuccessive stages-ofthe box-covering operation :wherein the shell-tiscias "describedabove. I

Fig. 7 is aperspectiveview,-fromabove,of a corner-stayed, preformed boxshell shaped externally like a: truncated pyramid and internally roiaims. (01.93am) shell has been torn'away so that the side-wall structure may be clearly seen. Dotted lines indicate the omitted corner of the shell.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary .perspectiveview of a corner of a cover blank suited for covering the shell of Fig. 7, showing one side-wall-forming part of said cover blank folded to correspond to the initial fold resulting from an operation of the machine with my attachment applied thereto. In this figure one corner lapping tabof the folded side-wall-forming part of the blank is also seen to have been folded-into a plane corresponding to that actually -assumed, .with respect :to :the related side-wallforming part, as a result of .the second operation of the machine-in covering such a shell as described above.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of theicover blankof Fig. 8, showing in dotted lines the iseveralbendor fold-lines.

Machines of-the type described inthe cited patent are adapted to cover rectangular "box shells,

i. e., shells which are parallelopipeds. Parts of such a machine are shown in Figs. 1, 2,4, 5, and 6.

Preparatory to operating the machineto ap-.

face, i. e.,the surfacewhich is-to 'be bonded to the shell itseli in the box-covering operation.

The shell, with the flat blank adhering to its bottom external surface, is then placed upwardly against a block, such-as II in Figs. '2, 4, 5, and 6, fixed horizontally at-the lower end of a vertically disposed plungensuch'as l2 in Fig. 2, the block I -I having the shape and approximate dimensions of the inside of the shell and forming temporarily a core therefor. 'lhe plunger lldoesnot appear in Fig. 1, and isbut-sketchilyshown in Fig. 2; however, the plunger structure is fullyillustrated in the cited patent, and i also well known in the art.

Somewhat beneath the plunger I2 is another coaxial plunger, such as [3 in Fig. 2 having at its upper end a horizontally disposedplate, such as M in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. -When the machine is set in operation the plunger I2 descends, carrying the block, shell,-;-a-n d cover blank with' it; when the under surface of the cover blank engage the upper surfaceof the plate lithe-two plungers then descend as a unit withthe plate, cover blank, shell, and block between them; Ohviously the twoplungers-and the block-andplate serve together as a means for positively holding the box-forming elements in proper position during the box-covering operation.

The cover blankand-theshellvare carriedrdown between two oppfisingzhorizontally disposed rollis specially adapted to the covering of box shells not having external vertical side-walls, but external sloping side-walls, I substitute for the usual rollers, mentioned above, two modified rollers l5 and [6- (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3). My modified rollers l5 and I6 are more particularly described below.

jaAs a" rule the cover blank for a rectangular box shell is providedwith a pair of side-wallforming parts, oppositely disposed, each part having at either edge tabsdesigned to be folded with respect to the side-wall-forming part itself and so to lap around. the corner of the shell; this follows common practice, of course, the purpose being to provide a cover for the finished box which is nowhere interrupted so as to expose part of the shell, as, for example, at the arris of two adjacent side-walls. Such corner-lapping tabs are first folded around the side-wall corners of the shell and afiixed to parts of the outside of side-walls of the shell adjacent to the first pair-of side-walls of theshell to which the first two side-wall-forming parts of the blank are affixed; when, in the continuous operation, the second pair of side-wall-forming parts of the cover blank are aflixed to the shell these parts overlap the corner- -lapping tabs; and no part of the arris of any side-wall corner of the shell is'exposed in the finished box. Thus it will be clear that the affixing of the corner-lapping tabs is a proper second function of the box-covering machine.

Thus, the machine of the type described is provided with means, positioned beneath the pair of opposing rollers mentioned above, for engaging, folding, and aflixing the corner-lapping tabs of the first pair of side-wall-forming parts of the blank immediately after such parts have been afiixed to the shell. Such means, usually metal fingers (not illustrated), are mounted upon two opposing, horizontally disposed bars, such as I! and I8 in Fig. 1 (bar I8 is also seen in Fig. 2).

engaging, folding, and afiixing, by means of the metal fingers, abovementioned, the corner-lapping tabs of the side-wall-forming parts previously affixed to the shell.

Inia machine of this type, modified by application thereto of my attachment, I substitute for the metal fingers means better suited to the somewhat unusual shape of the shell involved. Such means are described subsequently. The bars,- -however, and means for actuating them, are

not modified. I

Continuing now with the operation of the unmodified machine in covering a rectangular box s'hell: After the corner-lapping tabs have been 4 folded and aflixed, the continuing descent of the plungers carries the box-forming elements between another pair of opposing, horizontally disposed rollers, similar to the first mentioned pair, but set at 90 thereto. The second pair of rollers operates to fold upwardly the remaining two side-wall-forming parts of the cover blank and to afilx these parts to the other two side-walls of the shell, and also against, in part, the tabs affixed previously to these lastnamed side-walls of the shell.

In my attachment I substitute for these last two rollers, as for the first mentioned, a pair of modified rollers suited to shells of the shape described in the preamble hereto. These modified -rollers are designated I8 and 20 in Figs. 1 and 2;

roller l9 appears also in- Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The

four modified rollers substituted in my attachform cover blank have been aflixed to the four side-walls of the shell. At this stage the box is externally covered; but if. as is customary, the

cover blank is designed to cover not only the outside of the side-walls of the shell, but also the top edges of the side-walls and the inside surfaces thereof, a margin of each side-wallforming part of the cover blank projects upward beyond the top edge of its related sidewall.

The next operation of the machine involves so-called edge (i. e., margin, of the side-wallforming part of the cover blank) tuck-in fingers (of. U. S. Patent No. 753,524, issued March, 1, 1904, to Smith) or turn-infingers (of. U. S. Patent No. 1,424,316, issued August 1, 1922, to Morrison).

These fingers, their various'designs, and their operation are well-known in the art. Briefly, the edge tuck-in, or turn-in, fingers move centripetally with respect to the box-forming elements during an interval in the box-covering operation wherein the block is temporaril retracted upwardly and so withdrawn from the shell, the

latter being then supported by the plate. and

engage and fold inwardly the four upstanding margins or edges of the four side-wall-forming parts of the cover blank; next, these fingers are retracted; and then the block and plate are again moved toward each other, effecting reentry of the block into the shell and the folding down and affixing of the edges or margins of the side-wall-forming parts to the inner surfaces of the side-walls of the shell.

Fig. 1 shows four edge tuck-in, or turn-in, fingers, 2|, 22, 23, and 24.'

After operation of these fingers and the reentry of the block into the shell the box is complete. It is next automatically ejected from the machine, which is then ready for another box covering operation. i

To. facilitate understanding of the attachment of the present invention I now describe more particularly the structure and shape of the typeof shell and cover blank relating to the type of box to be covered by the machine when modified by the attachment.

First, it may be mentioned, the'machine operates only to cover a box shell and not to form the same during a box-covering operation. Thus the shell, whether of the rectangular shape usu ally seen, or of the type having the special shape shape shown in; Fig. Tresults.

:described in: the: preamble hereto, ordinarily preformed byhandbefore-the :coveringoperation, and; further, is: customarily. corner-stayed.- with stays: independent of: the cover. blank; which, necessarily, as 'is. obvious, servesras astay, as well as an ornamental cover; andlas. a reinforce- .ment for..any stays 1 previously. appliedtothe shell.

In Fig. '7. I'show, in perspective, a.typical',.preformed, corner-stayed? shell having-the.- external shape ofv a truncated pyramiduand the. internal shape .ofv axparallelopiped. I. designate .the shell, as: a. whole, by the index-s. Thevisiblecorne-r "staysare designated as 25,, 2.5; 25.. The;shell:is

formedifrom. a. flat. cruciform .blank, as the. figure clearly shows. The sider-wall forming. parts of the. shell blank are folded upwardlyon thefour sides of a rectangular central portion 25,. the bottom of which, in. preparation for a. covering operation, isbonded to. the upper surfacecof a like-shaped rectangular central. portionof: a

cruciform cover. blank (see: below). The-:first fold: of each side-Wall forming. part: of. the shell blank is more than 90?, so. that: the

parts are not vertical, but sloping. LEa-ch sidewall formingpart is. again folded, on. a.. line parallel to its firstzfold-line, so that theshell The marginal cutting. and scoring of foldelines. of theashell blank is usually a machine operation: whilethe actual folding is often, though; of: course,.not necessarily, manual; The sloping cornersmf the sloping. external .side-walls-the sidee-walls giving the' pyramidal. shape to the. outside of. the

shell-may. be stayed. by. apparatus: such as; is

describedin my co-pending application inthe United states Patent Office bearing Serial Number 789,879, andfiled December .5, .1947, and covering a box-stay machine. This application also describesthe structureof ashell having sloping "outer walls and vertical inner walls.

To facilitate further reference. totheshell S, I designate any sloping outerside-wallsas 21', any vertical inner side-wall as 28;.and. any. sloping outside side-Wall corner. as 29.

The shell S, of course, may be of-anysuitable material, usually cardboard.

the shell S and 3B of the cover blank B are. bonded together congruently.

The manner of folding the cover blank B is similarto that of folding the shell'blank. The two blanks are both cruciforms, in-the fiat; a difierence in general shape ofthe two blanks: is apparent in the corner-lapping tabsof the sidewall-forming parts of the cover blank; 'Two of these side-wall forming parts, 3'! and 32' which are oppositely disposed, are provided with cornerlapping tabs 33 and--35, and t5sand' 35,. respectively; and for this reasonthe cover blank has four fold-lines in addition .tothe. eight-fold-lines corresponding to theeight'foldelinest-of the'shell blank. These. fold-lines of the corner-lapping tabs are designated 31; the. other two side-wallforming parts of the cover blank B. as- 38 and. 39.

To facilitate further reference. to the cover blank B, I designate those portions ofthe sidewall-forming parts BI, 32, 38, and 39;=which.are: to be afiixed to the outer sidewalls of theshelLSias;

31a; 32a; 38%. and 39a, .respectivelyyand; those portions onthe same pantswhichare tolueiafiixed to theinnerside-vvalls of: the shell S"as.-3;ltb 3217, 3817;. and 3%, respectively... Anyofzthefour field;- lines :along..the. perimeterofqthe; rectangular 0811+ tral portionse isdesignatedw and any-of the four; fold-lines corresponding; to the. top edge. of a; side wall of: theshell S is. designatedM In. a vcovering? operation. involving a. shell. S and. a: covers-blank, B, the preformed-"shelli is bondecttothe central portion: .30. of, the blank. in the usual :manner; and the; shell, withthecover blank adhering thereto, is placed upwardly against. block I I,. which enters. the shell and serves temporarily as azcore .therjefor.

Now, it willabe; understood that,. as the; outer sid'eewallsof'the shell are not. vertical,,but.=slop- .ing, means: ordinarily provided. on such box.- coveringmachines' for foldingupwardlyand aflix:-.- ing side-wall-for-ming:parts of cruciform. cover blanks :to the sidewalls; of. parallelopipedonal shells. are. notsuited: for use. with a shell. SI and a b1ar1k;.B.' Forthis; reason I substitute for-the affixing rollers, of which-there are four,; four modified? rollers, 'all of which, are: substantially alike; One suchroller, i;.e., roller; |6- (cf. Fig.8... 1 and 2), is shown separately in Fig.

The. structure or. any-roller 1.5, 1,6,; 19,, or. 20 is. best::understood-.;from adescription of howthe roller may bemade. I preferto split a. tube of suitablelength andzd'iametertoform an end-to.- .end sloti 2 therein. Imthedrawings: I designate the unslotted portion of the tube as 43...:The :outer surface of this; portion, as," will-be seen, operates as a. roller: surface in anixingthe. :side.- wall-forming parts offthe cover blank-to the shell. The. edges of-theslotfl are indexed and I provide two. cylindrical;v end blocks; '46: and 41 .which.;are secured; within respectiveends of the :rollerand. serve 'astmounts for. stub. shafts- 48,- and 59; (see Fig; 3.). by-mea-nsof which thelroller, as a. whole, may be-journaled in* onevoftheausual brackets provided "for the stock rollers-of. boxcovering. machinesof this type.

Within the slotilz I provide anoscillatory bar pivotally securedto theend blockssdfiiand 41 at '51. The bar-'5!) extends from withintheroller throughmslot 42 and beyond the. outer surface. of theresidual portion 43 of the tube, as shown-to bestadvantage in Figs.-xi,,5-, and 6. The.- outer edge of the-ban-Bfl; extendinglengthwise with respect to. the roller, is .beveled..at.52,.the edge, 53 between the. bevel. and. a side of: the bar. being rounded. The .bar 5.0 is. normally. held proximate to,.but not. in. en agement with, edgefiil ofthe slot. 42,, and. against. detent's 54 by means of .springs55. Figsnl, 5, and 6. are partly in section for the purpose of. cl'arifyingtheroller structure. .A portion ofslotJfl'Z is open between edge '44 and the rounded ed e 53 at. a1ltimes;. the opening'yof course," may be'widened' by forcing the bar 50 against springs 55';

Each stock roller removed from the machine in applying'my attachment thereto is replaced by a roller of the construction described above. The rollers of" box-covering machines of this-type may beadjustablypositioned to accommodate box shells-of a great variety of-widths and I lengths; Obviously; then,- the modifiedroll'ers of the ---present attachment maylikewise be. adjusted to accommodate'shellss and blanks Bfofiaxgreat varietysoi-widths andilengths'.

These common ieatures. of boxecovering :machines are: well-known, form"; no. part of'zthe present inventionandneed. not be morernarticularly described. It may be remarked here that the aflixing rollers of the unmodified machine are not only mounted so that the two rollers of each opposing pair may be adjustably positioned so as to vary the horizontal distance between the rollers of a pair, but also the brackets of the rollers are each arranged to be rotated upwardly so that the roller may be moved upwardly and out of the path of an ascending, and excessively extending, edge or part of the box structure after the box is complete; also each roller bracket 64 is arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so that the roller thereof is in resilient contact with the box forming elements during part of the covering operation-that is, each roller is normally slightly within the path of the descending plate and the plate itself, as well as parts of the box forming elements, force the rollers of a pair somewhat apart against compression springs provided in the bracket structure.

The foregoing relates particularly to means provided in the attachment of the present invention for folding and affixing side-wall-forming parts of cover blanks. The attachment also includes improved means for folding and affixing the corner-lapping tabs of cover blanks, as mentioned before.

In applying my attachment to the machine I remove the usual metal fingers and supporting brackets provided for this last purpose; and I provide in place of such fingers and brackets a plurality of brushes and brackets of special design.

In Figjl part of the rollers I9, l5, and 20 are cut away so that two of these brushes and parts of their respective brackets may be shown in solid lines. These two brushes are designated 56 and 51; their respective brackets, each mounted on bar I1, are designated 58 and 59.

Oppositely disposed to brushes 56 and 51 are another pair, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in solid lines in Fig. 2, indexed 60 and 6|; their respective brackets 62 and 63 are mounted on bar I8. Bars I1 and I8 have been previously described. The brush brackets 58, 59, 62, and 63, are adjustably mounted on these bars so that the brushes of each pair may be positioned to accommodate any of a variety of shells S and blanks B. For example, the brackets 62 and 63, seen in Fig. 2, may be moved nearer to each other on bar I8, or farther away from each other, and fixed in selected positions by means of screws, the heads of which are shown. Each brush is mounted on its related bracket so that the plane of the ends of the filaments of the brush may be varied slightly to conform to sloping side-walls 21 of various shells 3. Such obvious adjustments have not been illustrated. The vertical relationship between, say, bar I8 and brushes 60 and 6| and roller I6, illustrated in Fig. 2, is equal to that between bar I1 and brushes 56 and 51 and roller I5. When the bars I! and I8 are moved toward each other horizontally the brushes engage, fold, and aflix the corner-lapping tabs of side-wallforming parts of the cover blank which have previously been afiixed by rollers I5 and I6. To move the bars I! and I8 together two toggle arms 65 and 66 are provided. The arms 65 and 66 are pivotally mounted to bars I1 and I8 at 61 and 68 respectively. The arms 65 and 66 similarly are pivotally mounted on studs 69 of the activator member I0. When the activator member I6 is moved to the right (by means not shown), the two arms I! and I8 will move toward one another. This operation is specifically described with respect to blank B subsequently.

With reference, now, to the earlier description of the operation of the unmodified machine with respect to rectangular boxes, I now describe the operation of the machine. with my attachment applied thereto, in covering a shell S with blank B.

Let it be assumed that the blank B is placed within the machine so that the angular disposition of the plan of Fig. 9 conforms to that of the plan of Fig. 1, i. e., so that the four side-wallforming parts 3!, 32, 38 and 39 are respectively parallel to and arranged to be engaged by rollers I5, I6, I9 and 20. Further, that shell S has been placed against block II, the latter temporarily forming a core therefor; and that the central portion 30 of blank B is congruent with and adhering to the bottom of portion 26 of shell 8.

No figure in the drawings illustrates specifically the first folding operation of the side-wallforming parts of the cover blank, nor of the afllxing of the first folded parts; however, the second folding and aflixing operation, which is at to, and beneath, the first, but in other respects substantially a functional duplication thereof, is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6. Thus, to avoid duplication of descriptive matter, the specific description of the operation of a pair of oppositely positioned rollers will be restricted to rollers I9 and 20.

As the machine is set in operation the plunger I2 descends, in the usual manner, carrying down ward the block II, the shell 5, and the adhering blank B, until the under surface of the latter contacts the upper surface of the plate I4. Both plungers, I2 and I3, then moving as a unit, carry the plate, blank, shell, and block between rollers I5 and I6, which operation effects folding and affixing of parts 3| and 32 to two opposing sidewalls of the shell S, in a manner to be particularly described below.

The side-wall-forming parts 3| and 32 of the blank B are those having at their edges cornerlapping tabs. The two tabs of part 3I are 33 and 34; those of part 32, 35 and 36. After the box-forming elements have been carried down between rollers I5 and I5 the parts 3| and 32 are fixed in position on side-walls of the shell; but the four corner-lapping tabs project beyond the other two adjacent side-walls of the shell. As the bars I! and I8 are brought toward each other, as a consequence of the normal operation of the box-covering machine, brushes 56 and 5! engage, fold, and aflix tabs 33 and 34 of part 3| to side-walls of the shell adjacent to that sidewall thereof upon which part 3| has previously been affixed; and brushes 60 and 6| engage, fold, and afiix tabs 35 and 36 of part 32 to side-walls of the shell adjacent to that side-wall thereof upon which part 32 has previously been affixed. An illustration typical of this operation is had in Fig. 8, which shows part 3| folded to accord with its initial machine-fold, and tab 34 folded to accord with its only machine-fold.

Fig. 2 shows, in dotted lines, the position of the box-forming elements during the operation of affixing the corner lapping tabs. In solid lines. in the same figure, the box-forming elements are shown at the beginning of the second side-wallforming folding and aflixing operation. In this figure the near side-wall-forming part 32 has already been afiixed to the shell, i. e., that portion of part 32 designated 32a has been so affixed, and that portion designated 32b projects above the re spectively.; Specifically, the parts 3-8-and 39 have contacted the edges 52, 52,-.of-,the two rollers and thecontinuing downward-movement of :;the

.plnngersl z and I3 has effecteitl a slight bend :in

both parts along fold-lines 40, 40.

In Fig. 2 theedges-of th'e'plate' H are about to contact'the edges 44, 44, of'the respectiveslots i'42;of';rollers l9 andZIl. InFig; 5 this engagement has taken ;;place, as illustratedwith reference to roller l9 only, the figure being erased, and roller 20 being omitted.

The engagement between an edge of the plate 14 and an edge 44 of slot 42 of any roller, together with the continuing downward movement of plate I4, operates to rotate the roller. For example, in Fig. 4, where the edges are shown to be in initial contact, with respect to roller I9, it will be seen that plate [4 cannot further descend without effecting rotation of roller l9. In Fig. 4, which is typically illustrative of the beginning of a folding and afiixing operation of any roller, it will be seen that part 38 of blank B has engaged and is being folded upwardly by the beveled edge 52 of roller [9. See Fig. 5, wherein a next stage is illustrated; here, as the descent of the plate H and of the box-forming elements continues, the roller [9 has continued to rotate, bringing the beveled edge 52 of bar 50 flat against the sidewall 21 of shell S with the part 38, or, strictly, portion 33a thereof, intervening, This figure is illustrative of the moment of actual fixation of a side-wall-forming part of the cover blank.

It has been pointed out that all roller brackets are arranged so that each roller is resiliently held against the box-forming elements during the descent of the latter to insure, as is obvious, positive fixation of the side-wall-forming parts. Also note in Fig. 5 that the bar 50 has rotated on 5| slightly away from detent 53 and against spring 55. This indicates an operative pressure moment which is substantially downward against the side-wallforming part 38. In Fig. 5 the fold of part 38 along line 48 is complete.

After the operation illustrated in Fig. 5, which specifically shows the second of the folding and affixing operations, all side-wall-forming parts of the cover blank are affixed to the sloping sidewalls of the shell. However, the margins or edges, i. e., 3), 32b, 38b, and 39b, of the sidewall-forming parts 3|, 32, 38, and 39 of blank B new project above the top edges of the side-walls of the shell S.

Thus, the following operation involves the tuckin or turn-in fingers, previously described. One;

finger 24 is shown in a position in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 which, with respect to each figure, and the operational stage thereof, is in accordance with the normal operation of the box-covering machine. In Fig. 6 the block II has been withdrawn from the shell S, the visible finger 24 has moved forward, folded part 38 on line 4|, so that portion 38b thereof is horizontally disposed; presently, upon retraction of finger 24 and reentry of the block H into shell S all four edges or margins 3 lb, 32b, 38b, and 391) will be folded into the shell and affixed to the inner surfaces of the side-walls thereof in the normal manner corresponding to the covering of a rectangular box shell.

Thereafter the box, complete, is ejected from the machine. When the box having the shape of shell S is ejected its upward movement operates to reengage all rollers, but inasmuch as each is free-itozrmov'e upward and away from the edges ='o'f the box and plate :14, 1thtWO';may pass. by :merely rotating slightly the. 'respectivebrackets of the four rollers.

I claim:

l1.. Means" for; Jfolding and affixing to the sidewall of a box shell slopin with respect to the bottom thereof a -'side-wall-forming part of a cruciformcover blank adhering to :the bottomof said shell, said means comprising a roller having an axial slot therein, and, within said slot, a resiliently and pivotally mounted bar having a beveled edge extending outside said slot, said edge engaging, folding, and afiixing said part to said shell as the latter is passed against said roller.

2. In a box coverin machine arranged to receive into its covering mechanism a box shell bottom-first, means for folding and afilxing to the outside of a box shell having sloping sidewalls side-wall-forming parts of a flat cruciform cover blank adhering to the bottom of said shell, said means comprising a roller having an axial slot therein, an edge of said slot positioned in the path of the advancing box shell so that a bottom edge of said shell engages said edge of said slot and so causes said roller to rotate, and a bar resiliently and pivotally mounted within said slot, an edge of said bar extending outside said slot and being beveled, said edge of said bar folding and affixing such a side-wall-forming part of said cover blank to a sloping sidewall of said shell during rotation of said roller.

3. In a machine wherein a box shell is presented bottom first to be covered with a flat cruciform cover blank adhering to the bottom of said shell, an attachment for adapting the machine to cover a box shell having the external shape of a truncated pyramid comprising two pairs of opposing rollers between which said shell is passed, the first of said pairs being above and disposed at to the second thereof, each roller of said pairs being the means of claim 1.

4. The means of claim 1 in combination with a reciprocating box shell form adapted to have a shell with inwardly sloping sides snugly fitted thereon and to advance the same bottom first past said means arranged in parallelism with a side of said shell.

5. Means for folding and affixing a side-wall covering part of a fiat cruciform cover blank against a side of a box shell having the external shape of a truncated pyramid, said means comprising a rollerhaving a longitudinal slot therein, and a beveled impressing bar pivotally and resiliently mounted partly within and partly without said slot, said bar being engaged in passing by a bottom edge of said shell and thereby effecting rotation of said roller and consequent folding and afiixing of said part to said side by the tracking of said bar against said part and said side.

6. The means of claim 5 in combination with a reciprocating box shell form adapted to have a shell with inwardly sloping sides snugly fitted thereon and to advance the same, with a cruciform cover blank adherin to the bottom thereof, bottom first into engagement with said means arranged in parallelism with a side of said shell.

7. In combination with the means of claim 5, apparatus for folding and affixing corner-lapping portions of side-wall covering parts of said cover blank to side-walls of said shell adjacent to sidewalls to which the first two of said parts are affixed by the means of claim 5, said apparatus comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed brushes reciprocating in the presence of the partly covered shell in contact with and normal to said side-walls.

MARTIN V. SILBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name Date Smith Jan. 14, 1902 Butler et a1 Mar. 18, 1913 Grate May 26, 1914 Morrison Aug. 3, 1920 Armbruster July 23, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1910 Germany July 27, 1932 

